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41 °F 5 Day Forecast Thursday, December 4, 2003 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | eSouthernOregon | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend November 26, 2003 Food donations can reduce library fines For each item given, the local libraries will reduce accounts by $1 By SARAH LEMON Mail Tribune Local libraries are offering patrons a chance to clear fines by clearing out their pantries. Jackson County Library Services will accept non-perishable food items through Jan. 3 in lieu of cash to pay overdue fines. For each item donated, the library will waive $1 from patrons’ accounts. All donations, which must be in cans or sealed boxes, will go to ACCESS Inc. "This is just an example of a very creative community addressing the problems at hand," said Russ Koehler, ACCESS resource development manager. The new food drive comes as ACCESS wrestles with how to provide grocery boxes for more families, Koehler said. The agency is serving 2,700 Jackson County families compared to 2,200 in November last year, he said. No one seeking assistance this year has been turned away, Koehler said. January historically has been one of ACCESS’ busiest months, Koehler added, as families start to feel the pinch of holiday gift-giving on a modest budget. Advertisement Library workers hope the program will not only encourage patrons to be generous during the holidays but also to start the new year with a clean record. Beginning in January, Jackson County libraries will refer overdue accounts in excess of $25 to a collections agency, said Library Director Ronnie Lee Budge. A fee of $10 will be added to the initial amount owed, she said. Library services still will send out overdue notices for items that are approximately a week overdue, Budge said. If library materials are not returned, an itemized bill will follow several weeks later with a due date. If patrons fail to respond, the library will turn the account over to collections, Budge said. Library workers have long wanted recourse against borrowers who flout due dates, Budge said. But the process has become affordable for Jackson County, which — along with Josephine County and Rogue Community College — likely will sign on with an Indiana-based company that provides collections services to libraries all over the country, Budge said. The contract ensures the library will collect more money in fees than the agency charges for services, she added. The library now imposes a fine of 20 cents per day on each overdue item with a maximum late fee of $10 per item. Donated food applies only to fines, not toward lost or damaged materials. Reach reporter Sarah Lemon at 776-4487, or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Real Estate Showcase Food for Thought Hike of the Week Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Openings Prime Times